Distributing mechanism for electrical ignition systems.



W. E. SCHWARZMANN.

DISTRIBUTlNG MECHANISM FOR ELECTRICAL IGNITION SYSTEMS.

' 'APBZLICATYION FILED FEB.1 5,1916- 1,226,817. Patented May 22, 1917;

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

WOLFGANG E. SCHWARZMANN, or SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR '10 BOSCH MAG-NETO COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION on NEW YonK.

DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRICAL IGNITION SYSTEM-S.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

vApplication filed'February 15,}916. Serial No. 78,489.

ToaZZ whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, WVoLreaNc E. SCHWARZMANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at and whose post-oiiice address is no. 51 .Belleclaire avenue, Long Meadow, Springfield, county of I'Iampden,

State of Massachusetts, have invented ce'r-' tain new and useful Improvements in Distributing Mechanism for Electrical Ignition Systems, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Prior forms of distributors for magnetos for internal combustion engines having eight or more cylinders have their contact segments arranged in two circular series, so that without exceeding practicable dimensions, the segments may have sutlicient peripheral extent to provide for the required timing range and at the same time have suflicient separation to prevent simultaneous engagement by the distributing brush. In One form of this construction, sparks are produced simultaneously at two spark plugs in series at each period of ignition,'thus requiring a considedably higher ignition voltage, and also interfering with the best performance of engines having eight or more cylinders. I-Ieretofore, in providing distributing mechanism in which the contact segments are arranged in two series as before, but in which a spark is produced at a single spark plug instead of at two spark plugs in series, the terminals of the secondary winding of the magneto are insulated from the primary winding, so that in this case, as well as in the case of two spark plugs in series, the use of the autotrans former connection between the primary and secondary windings is not shown.

In accordance with the present invention in application to an engine otman'y cylinders, the contact segments of a main distributer are arranged in two series, and a spark is produced at a single spark plug at each period of ignition, but the primary and secondary windings of the magneto may havean autotransformer connection. This is accomplished by so arranging the main (listributeii' that at each period of ignition, one distributing brush engages a segment of its series, while the other distributing brush sets between adjacent segments of its series, an intermediate distributer being used to complete the electrical connection from the insulated terminal of the secondary winding to the brush which at that "time engages a. segment. In case the armaturewinding is grounded, the ignition current produced at each period of ignitionflows from the insulated terminal of the winding, through the intermediate distributer to the insulated electrode of the spark plug connectedjto the contact segment of the main distributer then engaged by a brush, and thence by way of the frame to the grounded terminal of the winding. In a four-cycle internal combustionengine, this main distributer is driven at half crank shaft speed, and preferably the contact segments are stationary and opposite each other in two circular series, while the brushes are rotatable and are relatively advanced by half the angular separation oi adjacent segments of a series. This relation of segments and brushes, together with the selection of thespeed of rotation relatively to that of the crank shaft of the engine, constitutes a form of main distributer that can also be used in ignition systems embodying magnetos having both terminals of its secondary winding insulated from the primary winding, and therefore the appended claims are intended to cover this feature separately as well as in combination with other features of the distributing mechanism specifically disclosed hereinafter.

The accompanying drawingsshow the preferred form of the invention in application, as an example, to a magneto generating four ignition voltages per rotation, and to a fourcycle internal combustion engine having twelve cylinders. In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a central vertical section taken longitudinally of the magneto; Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram.

The construction of the magneto proper and the mechanical interrupter is like that disclosed in the copending application of Otto Heins and Charles M. Wild, Serial No. 68841, filed December 27, 1915. The rotor of the magneto is the armature 1 which is of the ordinary shuttle type having high and low tension windings and which is mounted for rotation in the bearings 2. 1 The stationary field member comprises two permanent magnets at and 5 of horse-shoe form arranged side by side along the axis of the armature. The magnet 1 is wider than the magnet 53 and each has two diametrically-disposed pole shoes at right angles to the pole shoes of the other magnet. The arrangement is such that one axial portion of the polar projections of the armature bridges the spaces between the pole shoes of the magnet a twice in each rotation, whereas the remaining axial portion of the polar projections of the armature bridges the spaces between the pole shoes of the magnet 5 twice in the same rotation, these periods occurring at 90 intervals in substantial coincidence with the period of interruption of the primary winding by the mechanical interrupter 6. In this way four substantially like ignition voltages are generated in the secondary winding at 90 intervals in each rotation of the armature.

The high tension or insulated terminal of the secondary winding is connected to both axially-offset segments 7 and 7 which are embedded in the rings 8 of insulating material at diametrically opposite places, each segment having a peripheral extent of approximately 90. The segments 7 and 7 are carried by the armature for rotation therewith, and successively engage the two sets of brushes 9, 9 and 10, 10, which sets are disposed at 90 to each other and are insulated from each other and from the ground. The brushes 9, 9 are electrically connected together and to the brush 12, while the brushes 10, 10 are electrically connected together and to the brush 12, the two brushes 12 and 12 being arranged to be driven through a one to three speed reducing gearing formed by the pinion 13 on the armature and the gear 14 on the rotating shaft 15. The stationary contact segments 16, 16 are disposed opposite each other and in insulating material in two circular series, and the brushes 12 and 12 are so positioned that while one engages a segment of its series, the other one sets between two adjacent segments of its series, that is, in the construction shown, the two brushes 12 and 12 are relatively advanced by an angle of 30. The contact segments 16, 16 are in the usual way connected to the insulated electrodes of the individual spark plugs, the other electrodes of the spark plugs being grounded on the engine frame. The segments 7, 7 and the cooperating brushes 9, 9, 10, 10 form an intermediate distributer between the generating winding 18 and the main dis tributer and are adapted to periodically interrupt the circuit therebetween but at each period of ignition to conduct the ignition current from the winding to a single one of the contact segments 16 or 16 of the main is engaged with the brush 10.

.and at no other spark plug.

distributer by completing the circuit to a single one of the brushes 12 or 12 thereof.

In this ignition system for a twelve-cylinder four-cycle engine, the shaft of the armature is driven by the engine at one and one half times crank shaft speed, and the rotatable brushes 12 and 12 are therefore driven at one-half times crank shaft speed, so that for each 60 of rotation of the crank shaft, the magneto rotates through 90 and gencrates one ignition voltage, while each main distributer brush 1 or 12 moves through onehal'l the distance between adjacent segments of the respective series.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be ob served that the primary winding 17 is grounded on one side, and is connected on the other side to one terminal of the secondary winding 18 and also to the insulated ele ment 19 of the mechanical interrupter (3, the two windings 17 and 18 having an autotranst'ormer connection. The insulated element 19 engages the grounded element 20, except when the circuit of the primary winding is interrupted between those elements of the mechanical interrupter at each 90 of rotation of the armature. The insulated terminal of the high tension or secondary winding 18 is electrically connected to both contact segments 7 and 7 of the intermediate distributer and the brushes are so positioned that the segments engage but one of them at a time. In the position shown in F ig. 3, the connection from the armature winding 17, 18 to the brush 12 is completed by the segment 7 and brush 9 of the intermediate distributer, whereas the electrical connection to the other distributer brush 12 is interrupted at the intermediate distributer by reason of the fact that both brushes 10 and 10 are at that time disengaged from both segments 7 and 7. The ignition current produced in the secondary winding at this period of ignition therefore flows to the insulated electrode of the spark plug connect ed to the contact segment No. 1, and to no other spark plug. At the next period of: i nition, which occurs when the armature has rotated through 90 from the position shown, the segment 7 is disengaged from both brushes 9 and 10, and the segment 7 The rotating brushes 12 and 12 will, in that part of the rotation, move through 30, so that the brush 12 is then between the contact segments Nos. 1 and 3, while the brush 12 is in engagement with the contact segment No. 2, whereby the ignition current then produced in the secondary winding is conducted to the brush 12 while the brush 12 is disconnected. The spark therefore occurs at the spark plug connected to the segment No. 2,

lVhen the armature has rotated through another 90, the segment 7 is still disengaged from both Aiter rotation of the armature of 90 from' this last position, the segment 7 is disengaged with both brushes 9 and 10, while the segment 7 is now engaged with the brush 10. The ignition current produced at that period of ignition flows to the spark plug connected to the contact segment No. a, which is then engaged by the brush 12, and flows to no other spark plug. This operation continues in such manner that the brush l2 conducts ignitio;-i current to a contact segment of one series 16, and then the other brush 12' conducts ignition current to a contact segment of the other series 16, the order being indicated by the numbers given to the contact segments in Fig. 3. Thus in each two rotations of the engine, the magneto produces twelve ignition currents which are conducted to the twelve spark plugs in turn.

It will be apparent that in the specific arrangement shown herein, the magneto may be of any type in which four ignition currents are produced in each rotation of the armature. Also, in accordance with the broad ideas disclosed herein, the arrangement of the intermediate distributer and the main distributermay be modified, and may be used with magnetos producing more or less than four ignition currents per rotation, and with ngines having more or less than twelve cylinders operating on the tour-cycle or other principle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination with an internal combustion engine having spark plugs, and a magneto having an autotransformer winding, of distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributer having contact segments electrically connected to individual spark plugs, and an intermediate distributer which is mounted on the rotor of the magneto and which, at each periodof ignition, conducts the ignition current from said winding to a single one of said contact segments.

2. The combination with an internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, of a magneto having a grounded autotransformer winding, of distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributer having contact segments electrically connected.

to the insulated electrodes of individual spark plugs, and an intermediate distributer which is mounted on the rotor of the magneto and which, at each period of ignition, conducts ignition current from said winding to a single one of said contact segments.

3. The combination with an internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a magneto having a. secondary winding with one terminal grounded and the other terminal insulated, of distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributer having contact segments electrically connected to the insulated electrodes of individual spark plugs, and an intermediate distributer which is mounted on the rotor of the magneto and which, at each period of ignition, completes the electrical connection from the insulated terminal of said winding to a single one of said contact segments.

a. The combination with an internal combustion engine having spark plugs, and a magnetohaving an autotransformer winding, of distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributer having contact segments electrically connected to individual spark plugs, and brushes cooperative with the segments, and also comprising an intermediate distributer which is mounted on the rotor of the magneto and which at each period of ignition, conducts the ignition cur rent from said winding to a single one of said brushes.

c o. The combination wlth an internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary winding with one terminal grounded and the other terminal insulated, of distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributer having stationary contact segments electrically connected to the insulated electrodes of individual spark plugs, and rotatable brushes cooperative with the segments, and also comprising an intermediate distributer which is mounted on the rotor of the magneto and which, at each period of ignition, completes the electrical connection from the insulated terminal of said winding to a single one of said brushes.

6. The combination with an internal combustion engine having spark plugs, and a magneto having an autotransiormer winding, of distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributer having two series of contact segments electricallylconnected to individual spark plugs, and an intermediate distributer which is mounted 011 the rotor of the magneto and which, at each period of ignition, conducts the ignition current from said winding to a single one of said contact segments.

7. The combination with an internal. combustion engine having spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary winding with one terminal grounded and theother terminal insulated, of distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributer having two series of contact segments electrically connected to the insulated electrodes of individual spark plugs, and rotatable brushes cooperative with the segments, and also comprising an intermediate distributer which is mounted on the rotor of the magneto and which, at each period of ignition, completes the electrical connection from the insulated terminal of said winding to a single one of said brushes.

8. The combination with an internal combustion engine having spark plugs, and a magneto having an autotransformer winding, of distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributer having two series of contact segments electrically connected to individual spark plugs, and rotatable brushes cooperative with the segments, and also comprising an intermediate distributer which is mounted on the rotor of the magneto and, which, at each period of ignition, connects the insulated terminal of said winding to a single one of said brushes.

9. The combination with an internal combustion engine having spark plugs, and a magneto having a generating winding, of distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributer having two series of contact segments electrically connected to individual spark plugs, and two brushes which alternately engage the contact segments of the individual series, and also comprising an intermediate distributer which is mounted on the rotor of the magneto and which, at each period of ignition, conducts the ignition current from said winding to a single one of said brushes.

10. The combination with an internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary winding with one terminal grounded and the other terminal insulated, of distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributer having two series of contact segments electrically connected to the insulated electrodes of individual spark plugs, and two brushes which alternately engage the contact segments of the individual series, and also comprising an intermediate distributer which is mounted on the rotor of the magneto and which, at each period of ignition, completes the electrical connection from the insulated terminal of said winding to a single one of said brushes.

11. The combination with an internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary winding with one terminal grounded and the other terminal insulated, oi distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributer having two series of contact segments electrically connected to the insulated electrodes of individual spark plugs, and brushes cooperative with the contact segments, and also comprising a rotatable intermediate distributer having two axiallyoffset segments connected to the insulated terminal of said winding, and two sets of brushes cooperative with the segments of the intermediate distributer and electrically connected to the individual brushes of the main distributer, the segments and brushes of the intermediate distributer being so constructed and arranged that, at each period of ignition, the ignition current is conducted to a single brush of the main distributer.

12. The combination with an internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary winding with one terminal grounded and the other terminal insulated, of distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributer having two series of contact segments electrically connected to the insulated electrodes of individual spark plugs, and brushes cooperative with the contact segments, and also comprising a rotatable in termediate distributer having two axiallyoffset segments connected to the insulated terminal of the secondary winding, and two sets of brushes cooperative with the segments of the intermediate distributer and electrically connected to the individual brushes of the main distributer, the segments and brushes or the intermediate distributer being so constructed and arranged that, at each period of ignition, the electrical connection from the insulated terminal of the secondary winding is completed to a single one of the brushes of the main distributer.

13. The combination with a four-cycle internal combustion engine, and a magneto having a secondary winding, of distributing mechanism comprising a main distributer geared to run at half crank shaft speed and having two series of contact segments electrically connected to individual. spark plugs, and also comprising an intermediate dis tributer which is electrically connected to the secondary winding and which, at each period of ignition, conducts the ignition current from said winding to a single one of said contact segments, said intermediate distributer being mounted on the rotor oi the magneto.

16 The combination with a four-cycle internal combustion engine having spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary winding, of distributing mechanism comprising a main distributer geared to run at half crank shaft speed and having two series of contact segments electrically connected to individual spark plugs, and also comprising an intermediate distributer which is mounted on the rotor of the magneto, and which, at each period of ignition, conducts the ignition current from said winding to a single one of said contact segments.

15. The combination with a four-cycle internal combustion engine having spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary winding, of distributing mechanism comprising a main distributer geared to run at half crank shaft speed and having two series of contact segments electrically connected to individual spark plugs, and brushes alternately engaging the contact segments of the individual series, and also comprising an intermediate distributer which is mounted on the rotor of the magneto and which, at each period of ignition, conducts the ignition cur rent from said winding to the brush then engaged with the contact segment.

16. The combination with a twelve-cylinder internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a four-pole magneto having a secondarywinding with one terminal grounded and the other terminal insulated, of distributing mechanism comprising a main distributer having contact segments arranged in two series of six segments electrically connected to the insulated electrodes of individual spark plugs, and also comprising an intermediate distributer which is mounted on the rotor of the magneto and which, at each period of ignition, completes the electrical connection from the insulated terminal of said winding to a single one of said contact segments.

17. The combination with a twelve-cylinder internal combustion engine having grounded spark plugs, and a four-pole magneto having an autotransformer winding with one terminal grounded and the other terminal insulated, of distributing mechanism comprising a main distributer having contact segments arranged in two series of six segments electrically connected to the insulated electrodes of individual spark plugs, and also comprising an intermediate distributer which is mounted on the rotor of the magneto and which, at each period of ignition, completes the electrical connection from the insulated terminal of said winding to a single one of said contact segments.

18. The combination with a four-cycle internal combustion engine having spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary winding, of distributing mechanism comprising a rotatable main distributer having two series of contact segments electrically connected to individual spark plugs, and also comprising an intermediate distributer which is electrically connected to the secondary wlnding, and which, at each period of.

ignition, conducts the ignition current to a segment of one series and then to a segment of the other series, said intermediate distributer being mounted on the rotor of the magneto.

19. The combination with a four-cycle internal combustion engine having spark plugs, and a magneto having a secondary winding, of distributing mechanism comprising a main distributer geared to run at half crank shaft speed and having two series of contact segments electrically connected to individual spark plugs, and also comprising an intermediate distributer which is electrically connected to the secondary winding and which, in each two rotations of the crank shaft of the engine, conducts the ignition current to each of said contact segments in turn, said intermediate distributer being mounted on the rotor of the magneto.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WOLFGANG E- SGHWARZMANN.

Goples of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

